Improvement in lamp-burners



H. 6.. Mommas.

Lamp-Burner.

Patented Feb..9,1875.

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T14 E 6 MPH": CO, PHbTo LITH. 59 k4-l PARK PLACE, Mm

UNITED STATEs PATENT HERMAN e. MOEHRING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIeNoR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT To RUEUs S. MERRILL, WILLIAM B. MERRILL,AND JOSHUA MERRILL, OF RoSToN, MASsAoHUSETTs.

IMPROVEMENT IN LAMP-BURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,701, dated February9, 1875, application filed December 15, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN G. MoEnRINe, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp- Burners, ofwhich the following is a specification:

My present invention is designed with a view of avoiding the necessityof trimming and adjusting the wick of a lamp-burner, as well as ofrenewing the wick so frequently as is now required. These operations, atall times and in all classes of lamps troublesome, are particularly soin lamps such as used in railways, in which it is difficult to get atthe lamp. It is of importance that, in these lamps, the wick shall bemaintained while burning in a fixed position, in which it will not fallbelow or rise above the point to which it was first adjusted. It is witha view of obtaining these results that I have originated my presentinvention. I use ordinary wicking, which extends up to a certain pointin the wick-tube a point in proximity to the upper end ofthe tube-anddetermined by a wire or other stop, which prevents further upwardmovement of the wick. Above this point I make use of a stiffened tip orsection of absorbent material, which is inserted into the wick-tubethrough the upper end of the latter, and is pushed down until it meetsthe stop, at which point it comes in contact with the lower or feedwick. In this position the upper part of the tip will project from thewick-tube the proper distance to produce, when ignited, anilluminating-flame of the proper or desired character. When-once thelower wick is put into the burner, it remains unchanged and unmoved,acting simply as a feeder for the tip, which absorbs from the wick theoil taken up by capillary action from the oil-reservoir. The tip can berenewed as often as desired. The old one may be removed and a new onesubstituted therefor each time the lamp is used. I have 'found that thetip can easily and. cheaply be made of ordinary wicking cut into theproper lengths and stiifened with paraffine; but other material may beused for this purpose which may, in itself, possess the requisitestiffness without the aid of extraneous means; and in case a stiffeningsubstance is used to give the tip the proper stiifness to admit of itsbeing readily inserted in place, not only parafline but any othersuitable stiifening material may be employed. All that is necessary is,that the wick section or tip should be a proper absorbent of the oil,and should possess the requisite stiffness or rigidity to adapt it tothe use for which it is intended.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of alamp-burner embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectionof the same transverse to the wicktube. Fig. 3 is a View of the tip.

The burner A may be of ordinary or suitable construction. The onlyrespect in which it necessarily differs from burners in the market is,that at a certain point in the interior of the wick-tube a is a stop, b,above and beyond which the lower or main wick, 0, cannot pass. This stopmay be made in various ways. In the present instance it is formed bystringing a wire, b, across the tube, which extends across between thenarrow sides or edges of the tube. It passes out through. holes in theseedges, and its projecting ends are held by bein g brought together onthe outside of the tube and twisted, as indicated at b. The ordinarywick-adjuster 0 may be used to facilitate the insertion and withdrawalof this feedwick, although such an adjuster is not really necessary.Above the wick and the dividing wire or stop is the stiffened tip (1,hereinbefore referred to, which is inserted into the upper end of thewick-tube, as already described, until its lower end abuts against theupper end of the wick. These two parts being thus in contact, the tiptakes from the feed or supply wick all the oil needed to supportcombustion.

The burner shown in the drawing is one which should be provided with theusual slotted deflector and chimney-rest. These parts,

have not been shown, inasmuch as they are not necessary for the purposesof this specification.

I do not claim, broadly, the use in lampbnrners of a removable wick-tipin combination with an under main wick; but

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Pat ent, is-- In lamp-burners for use in connection with wicks,as described, a stop in the wick-tube, which prevents the ascent of theone wick and the descent of the other, and insures contactof the twowicks at a fixed point in the wick-tube, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto signed my name this 24th day ofNovember, A. D. 1874.

' H. G. MOEHRING.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. SWAN, THEODORE M. PLIMPTON.

